Outdoor Skills
Archive
Sixteen-year-old Noah Graham was lying down during a late-summer camping trip when he felt jaws clamp down on the back of his head. He reached back and touched a Wolf’s face.
There are some things you just can't leave home without. We're not just talking about your smartphone—there are more important things in life, especially if you're headed outside.
Cutting down your own evergreen is easier than you think
Transceivers work well, but are costly. Apps may offer a cheaper alternative.
At the annual ϳԹ Travel World Summit in Namibia, a bicycle proves the best way to experience your surroundings.
Each summer 20,000 shining paragons of American boyhood march into the wilderness of Philmont Scout Ranch to confront an age-old question: Can the anarchy of adolescence be tamed?
Give your boots some extra stability for especially icy weather - all it takes is a quick trip to the hardware store.
The outdoors can be deadly if you're unprepared. But these gear items will help you make it home alive—even if everything else goes wrong.
I work on trails to help my local mountaineering club. Is there anything light enough to carry along in my backpack?
Why were 19 experienced firefighters killed when an Arizona blaze blew out of control? Equally important: Can we prevent such a disaster from ever happening again?
He's loud, he's proud, and—advisably or not—the Nuge always speaks his mind. We caught up with the 64-year-old rocker ahead of the return of his TV show, Spirit of the Wild, to talk about why he still spends his downtime hanging out in the woods.
Those who continue to fixate on cheaters and unfairly accuse innocent riders are missing the point of cycling.
Build a better fire all on your own. Here's how to choose and split firewood without losing any digits.
In promoting pro mountain biker Rebecca Rusch’s record run on the Kokopelli, Red Bull is undermining their athlete’s accomplishment.
After three years, Aaron Gulley finally made good on his obsession with one of the harshest, self-supported mountain bike races in the West.
Huston just left the country for his expedition to Ellesmere Island
The weather's been bad, and all I've been doing is sitting at home and practicing my knots. Is there an app for that?
Axie Navas takes a look at the controversy behind California's recent ban
It seems like every week I read about some scary shark sighting or attack. I love swimming in the ocean and take a tropical beach vacation every couple of years. How much should I worry about a shark attack?
FalconGuides just announced the first 12 titles in a new line of interactive outdoor guides the company developed in partnership with Inkling, a platform for interactive learning. For the price of the download, readers get expert content optimized for iPhone, iPad, and Web, with…
In this excerpt from his newest book, The 4-Hour Chef, Timothy Ferriss shares ϳԹ contributing editor Steven Rinella's instructions for cooking up a squirrel (or three) over the fire
In this excerpt from his newest book, The 4-Hour Chef, Timothy Ferriss shares the fire cooking technique of Francis Mallmann, the Argentine figurehead of grilling
In this excerpt from his newest book, The 4-Hour Chef, Timothy Ferriss shares Marco Canora's sure-fire technique for carving chickens into thighs, legs, wings, and breasts
Author Dylan Tomine shares his tips on introducing kids to finding and growing their own food
After wandering to a bar in Sandy's aftermath, Jason Diamond was reminded of the best parts about living in New York
Deal with hurt pets like you would deal with a human emergency: use common sense. And if you’re heading into the woods for a day or longer, bring a first aid kit that will work for man and beast alike.
Make sure to bring these emergency items on your next camping or hiking trip
Andrew Badenoch raised nearly $10,500 via Kickstarter to fund his zero-fuel Arctic adventure, but he abandoned his trip and left his backers in the dark. Andrew Badenoch. Photo: Joe Bell Back in February, I wrote about Andrew Badenoch, an ambitious…
Ever wondered how to survive a volcanic eruption? Not sure what to do when zombies inevitably take over? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=TfCb33_nPe0 For more than 10 years, Survivorman Les Stroud has ventured into the backcountry alone and recorded his wilderness experiences. He’s traveled to more than 25 locations, racked up 200 days of solitude, and…
Climber hanging. Photo: Rudall30/Shutterstock Scientist Daniel Lack used experience as a motivator for his study on climbing rescues, deaths, and accidents in Boulder County, Colorado. Lack started climbing at 24 at the Kangaroo Point…
It's a lot easier to imagine you're a colonial settler when you're not 25, Katie Heaney learns
https://youtube.com/watch?v=F7VghMbLiMA Last week, the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce posted a video of a bison charging children on its Facebook page—accompanied by a scolding: “This video is one that makes us angry, expecially at the irresponsible person behind the…
ϳԹ correspondent Steven Rinella talks to his longtime editor, Mary Turner, about his new book (and TV show of the same name) Meat Eater, how he got started fishing and hunting, and why he’ll never stop
For years, outdoorsman and hunter Steven Rinella dreamed of felling a Dall sheep, North America's most difficult game animal. After seeing his friends come home with horns of their own, in this excerpt from his new book, Meat Eater: ϳԹs of an American Hunter, he went all in and booked a trip to the Alaska Range.
Bug spray seems messy and outdated. Do the apps for Android phones and iPhones really work? What about bug-repellent clothing?
On May 13, 2011, two months after a tsunami had devastated the coast of Japan, professional photographic retoucher Becci Manson headed to the country to volunteer. She traveled there with All Hands to help with the clean up,…
Les Stroud in Norway. Photo: Discovery After almost a four-year absence, 50-year-old survival expert Les Stroud will return as Survivorman on Sunday August 19, at 8 p.m. Eastern. Earlier this year, Stroud traveled to the mountains of Norway…
Telluride Mountain School students explore the Needle Mountains. Photo: Jamie Salem By Emily Brendler Shoff The older kids get, the easier it is to take them into the backcountry. This is even true for teenagers, who, despite getting a bad rap for being addicted to all…
Meet the preppers, a rattled, robust survivalist movement whose members just hate being called survivalists. Emily Matchar investigates the 21st century's wildest new apocalyptic scene.
All you need to know about going wild with man's best friend, including training tips, canine gear, and wilderness etiquette
By Erica Lineberry When I got pregnant in the summer of 2009, I was shocked at how matter-of-fact people were with their “advice.” Most annoying to me were the comments around my husband’s and my recreational pursuits, specifically climbing: “Kiss all those crazy weekend climbing trips goodbye!” and “I guess…
What if you are backpacking or camping, and are confronted by a fast-moving wildfire? What should you do? What should you carry?
One way to spend a summer evening: figuring out the most creative ways to open a bottle of beer. Another? Drinking good beer from cans. Read our picks of the best canned beer here.
Sylvester Ayek survives by subsistence hunting and by turning his take into art. The Inupiat elder carves the ivory from walruses into jewelry and sculptures. In The Bone Carver, the Nome, Alaska, resident shares how he learned to hunt…
I work outdoors in some serious deer tick habitat. I saw that Outdoor Research makes the pre-treated BugOut gaiters. Do your recommend them, or do you have any other suggestions for staying tick free?
Tim Hetherington in February 2011 A year ago today, Chris Hondros, a New York-based photographer on assignment for Getty Images, and Tim Hetherington were killed while covering battles in Libya between government forces and rebels. Many of the details surrounding the incident are fuzzy, but…
One year ago today, photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros died after a mortar shell exploded near them on Tripoli Street in the city of Misrata, Libya. They were embedded with rebels fighting the army of Colonel Qaddafi. Hondros died…
Photo: Flikr/tkd540 With their commercial use permits on hold, horse pack operators in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks aren’t taking trip reservations and are nervously awaiting a May 23 hearing at which U.S. District Court Judge Richard Seeborg will outline…
Some might say this is the perfect telescope for the star-searching newbie. If you can't hone in on the galaxy you're looking for on your own power, Celestron's Prodigy 6 robotic self-aligning telescope will find it for you. Using electronic motors, an intelligent on-board computer, a…
Climber Freddie Wilkinson demonstrates what it takes to get a shower when living in a 12×12 New Hampshire cabin without running water.
Photo: Young Hoon Oh Young Hoon Oh, South Korean PhD candidate in anthropology at UC Riverside, is headed to Nepal at the end of the month to attempt his second Everest summit. But his itinerary extends well beyond the days he'll try to reach the top…
Some of us are scoring powder days, while others are getting skunked. Either way, it’s shaping up to be a weird and dangerous winter all across the country—and nowhere is this truer than the backcountry. So far, 8 skiers and boarders and four snowmobilers have…
Badenoch, training. Photo: Joe Bell This spring, Andrew Badenoch plans to launch a 7,000-mile trip from Bellingham, Wash., up to the southern coast of the Arctic Ocean, before looping back. His locomotion will…
The freediving world championships occur at the outer limits of competitive risk. During the 2011 event, held off the coast of Greece, more than 130 athletes assembled to swim hundreds of feet straight down on a single breath—without (they hoped) passing out, freaking out, or drowning. Meet the amazingly fit, unquestionably brave, and possibly crazy people who line up for the ultimate plunge.
On December 20, actor Gerard Butler was held down by a set of 10-12 foot waves at Maverick's. He was out surfing the break with Greg Long, Peter Mel, and Zach Wormhoudt…
https://youtube.com/watch?v=q72uhQeTCmM Here's a survival story to wake you up on a Monday morning. On December 31, 22-year-old Australian tourist Erin Langworthy jumped from a bridge over the Zambezi River attached to a bungee cord. The cord broke and Langworthy briefly blacked out…
This past weekend, skier Jamie Pierre died in an avalanche in Utah's Little Cottonwood Canyon. Known instabilities in the snowpack had been brushed aside by dozens of experienced skiers in the area that day, but these layers could persist for the whole season. How well can avalanche experts predict slides for the rest of the season based on these conditions?
By Patrick Symmes, Guest Blogger Taking a child kayaking is the easy part—kids and water mix well. But like trout, kayaks only thrive in beautiful places, and that means hard driving and long going. Kids don't always deal with a long drive as well as a wet splash. Passing through…
When you’re traveling in the wilderness, a well-stocked med kit can mean the difference between a minor snafu and a major nightmare. This is true whether you’re adventuring alone or with a bevy of little rippers.
Go behind the scenes as photographer Michael Muller shoots surfer Josh Mohr for our August 2011 cover.
(Noa Ginella on his way to 1st place in the SUP cross.) Last week I went to the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado, to standup paddleboard in whitewater rapids. It’s hard to explain why whitewater SUPing is so…
Before heading up to Alaska, Christopher McCandless spent time exploring the Western U.S. The following video clip highlights some of that journey, with narration courtesy of Hal Holbrook. For more about Christopher McCandless, check out the Back to the Wild DVD.
On August 18, 1992, Chrisopher McCandless died alone in a bus in the Alaskan backcountry. Before his stay in the bus that others now visit as a pilgrimage, he journeyed all over North America. This gallery features some of the photos and notes from his ramblings. To read more notes and view more photos from Christopher McCandless, go to christophermccandless.info.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Guru, shows you the correct way to put out a camp fire.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Guru, shows you how to carve food paddles.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Guru, gives you tips on staying hydrated in a survival situation.
Billy Meyer of Ancient Pathways shows you how to start a friction fire.
Ron Walline of Ancient Pathways demonstrates how to make a fire with flint and steel.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Guru, shows you how to build a survival shelter with a tarp, sticks, and rope.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Guru, shares some rules on eating in the backcountry.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Guru, demonstrates three types of fire starters.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Guru, shows you how to build a survival fire.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Guru, shows you how to signal help without a mirror.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a The Survival Guru, tells you the essential items for your survival pack.
Tony Nester of Ancient Pathways, a.k.a. The Survival Gure, shows you how to signal for help without a signal mirro.